Butchie Denver and Chuck Perez
Butchie Denver
Many of us lost a good friend when this extraordinary woman passed away. She was an inspiration and we will miss her deeply.
Butchie and I met a few years ago, which was inevitable since we were working toward the same goals. As Allen Vigil so eloquently stated at her memorial on Sunday, July 8th, she was the champion for social justice. Butchie did all she could to protect the culture of Northern New Mexico: it’s architecture, art, farming, and especially its water.
Only two judges at the Sagebrush and two former county commissioners attended her memorial at Midtown Lounge. She was tough on the county government and a constant thorn in their side. Still Butchie knew the current commissioners well and one of them could have showed up at her memorial.
Butchie was very vocal when she recognized a lack of sound judgment by the commissioners and applauded when she thought they did the right thing. If Butchie were with us now she would be leading the protest against the senseless, politically motivated termination of some of the best employees the county has ever had.
She spent a lot of time at my house reviewing local government issues. Sometimes the frustration would give way to laughter. How can such a small town and county be so difficult to manage? Sure, there is always a shortage of funds, but the shortage of common sense and wrong-way ethics illustrate how simplicity turns into complexity and trouble ensues.
Many fellow Hispanics say that “outsiders” are always trying to change us or to tell us what to do. If you review the history of Taos, “outsiders” helped make Taos a famous art colony: the Harwoods, Mabel Dodge Lujan, and Doc Martin whose home is now the Taos Inn. Next-door Manby was found dead.
Long John Dunn played poker in a patient’s room during the early days at Holy Cross Hospital. Mrs. Dunn told me that Long John and his gang would drink and smoke and cuss. The nuns could not get in because the door was locked but the smoke escaped from underneath the door. He was not allowed in again.
Who can forget the Karavas family? They built the La Fonda Hotel, where Saki and his mother, added much to Taos. The land trust started by “outsiders,” is responsible for the preservation of all the beautiful land that you see when cresting the Horseshoe Drive, south of Taos. The McCarthy’s, the Gusdorfs, the Hoffmans and many more—all helped put Taos on the map.
Some will say these people ruined Taos but I ask you, what would life here be without their influence?
To the above list I add Butchie Denver, a person who was not afraid to tell it the way it was. I’ll try to carry on Butchie, not as well as you, but I will carry on.
Gene Sanchez
Nellie’s Note on Chuck’s Memorial
Hello Tribe~
The memorial is set for Saturday, July 21st, beginning @ 1pm at the Gersh Girl’s home on Lama mountain. Here’s the plan:
Rick Klein will lead us in the ceremony
Please bring any photos (copies or you can scan & email these to me ahead of time) to add to the memory book
Please bring something cold to drink or fun to eat, since we’ll lay out the goodies when it’s all said and done
Please think about writing something for the memory book, either ahead of time (and bring a printed copy) or email to me ahead of time (by Wednesday, 7/18).
If you want to share a story, poem or you want to say anything come with that in hand or heart
Send the info on NO MORE THAN TWO pieces of music you’d like Terry Klein to play for us, and bring the CD to the memorial; you can reach Terry through Rick’s email
Call Iris for directions to the house @ 505-807-2171 by Thursday, 7/19
I’d like to pull all of our pics and stories together in the Memory book.
Spread the word. Let me know if we’ve forgotten anything!
xoxo Nellie